Plastic ice returning to Charles Clark Square outdoor rink

City council revisited one its most unpopular decisions by voting Thursday to install plastic ice again on the outdoor rink at Charles Clark Square rather than pay to have the necessary repairs needed to allow for natural ice this winter.

Dave Waddell, Windsor Star

Updated: October 30, 2015

A City of Windsor crew removes the ice from Charles Clark Square in Windsor in this 2014 file photo. Tyler Brownbridge / Windsor Star

City council revisited one its most unpopular decisions by voting Thursday to install plastic ice again on the outdoor rink at Charles Clark Square rather than pay to have the necessary repairs needed to allow for natural ice this winter.

The city was given an estimate for repairs to the refrigeration system of between $25,000 and $100,000.

Mayor Drew Dilkens broke the 5-5 deadlock by siding with the motion to go with plastic ice.

Dilkens said the administration report, which recommended going ahead with repairs for this season, also quoted a permanent fix could cost up to $500,000.

“I know how unpopular the plastic was,” Dilkens said Friday. “I didn’t like it much myself.

“I see this as a one-year fix to just get us through this season. Council didn’t want to blow $100,000 on temporary repairs this year and then spend another $500,000 on a permanent fix next year.”

Dilkens said his wish is to have natural ice back for next season.

“I don’t think anyone around the table minimizes the value of that amenity,” Dilkens said. “We want natural ice back in there.

“It’s doing it right and not throwing good money after bad.”

The plastic ice was originally installed in Dec. 2013, but after much negative feedback was removed before the end of Feb. 2014.

Rino Bortolin is pictured during a council meeting at city hall in Windsor on Thursday, October 29, 2015.Tyler Brownbridge /
Windsor Star

Coun. Rino Bortolin is disappointed his peers didn’t see the value in making the short-term repairs.

“Do we not remember the heavy public backlash against the plastic ice the first time?” Bortolin asked. “It’s not just a skating rink, it’s an experience. It’s a free amenity that is one of the few that’ll attract people downtown who don’t normally come.

“Plastic ice demeans the experience. People don’t like it.”

Joining Bortolin in voting to keep natural ice at the outdoor rink were councillors John Elliott, Ed Sleiman, Chris Holt and Irek Kusmierczyk.

It didn’t take long for feedback from the public to trickle in.

“It’s not going to be a popular decision,” director of parks Phil Roberts said when asked how he felt the public would react to plastic ice. “I’m already getting emails (Friday). They’re all negative.”

Roberts explained the range of repair costs was necessary because it’s impossible to know completely what’s required until they fire up the refrigeration plant.

“We know we have some leaks — that means we’re in for a minimum of $25,000,” Roberts said. “We can put in a sealing compound and that may fix it and we’re good.

“If not, then we have to start punching holes in the concrete floor to fix things. We just aren’t sure.”

If council had a change of heart, depending on the extent of the repairs, Roberts said it’s still possible natural ice could be in for the popular Christmas season.

He said city officials were digging out the plastic panels Friday and looking at some different configurations to reduce seams. He said installation could begin as early as next week.

“We’re considering a donut like configuration, like a looped track, to see if that’s more popular,” Roberts said. “We could put rubber padding and benches in the middle.”

Before investing half a million dollars in repairs in the current rink, Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Area president Larry Horowitz said the city should scope out a better location.

The current rink sits near the cluster of courthouses and the police station near Chatham Street and Goyeau Avenue.

“We isolate these things from the business community,” Horowitz said. “In Detroit, Toronto and Cincinnati the rinks are in the middle of the business community. That’s what creates pedestrian traffic. That’s what makes it alive.”

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